The Kitmart Dundee Stars are delighted to announce the signing of Latvian winger, Egils Kalns.
The 28-year old joins from Latvian side, Liepaja and head coach, Omar Pacha was excited to add a hungry forward, who is up for a challenge and has plenty honours to his name.
Last season, he began the year with Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League, the top Russian league and played seven games, before returning to Liepaja in the Latvian Top League, where he posted 12 goals and 12 assists in 27 matches, while also being an alternate captain.
During this summer, Egils was involved in the International Hockey tournament with Latvia and scored four goals and set-up two more for six points in as many games.
Kalns received his first leadership role in the 2016-17 campaign, as he was promoted to assistant captain and iced in the Continental Cup with Liepaja.
After a successful individual year, he was again chosen to represent Latvia in the International Hockey tournament and the Baltic Cup.
In 2014, Egils signed for Gornyak Rudny who compete in the Kazakhstan league and spent two seasons there.
In 70 appearances, he scored 17 goals and assisted on 14 more for 31 points before returning to Liepaja for the final 11 games of the 2015-16 Latvian season and helped the team to secure the league title.
Prior to his move to Kazakhstan, Kalns was dressing for Lämärit in the Finnish fourth Division and in 21 appearances, he bagged 26 goals plus 16 assists for 42 points in the 2013-14 season.
In 2009, the five-foot-ten-inch forward also played for Latvia at the Under 18 World Junior Championships, where in division 1 he scored a single goal to help Latvia win the Gold Medal.
Kalns also represented his country again in the summer of 2011, firstly at the Under 20 World Junior Championships where Latvia again, won gold.
After securing his latest signing, Pacha said:
“We wanted to get a guy that is hungry and has a bit more of an offensive upside and will give us depth across three lines.
“Egils is a guy that has a lot of creativeness and he has good speed and he can help us on our offensive side of the puck.
“He was a guy I was looking at last year and to get him now for this season, we are delighted.
“He has a good bit of experience too, he played last year in the KHL and he has a history of playing in Latvia, Kazakhstan and Finland.
“Guys like him, I am excited to see because it is a new challenge for them and it is good to see a guy like that come to us and see what he can bring as a player.
“Im excited to see what he can bring at this level and it is good to have guys, that want to see what they can do.”
“Kalns is not a guy that is going to be scared of coming to this country and coming into this league and I think he will do well.”
After committing his future to the Stars for next season, Egils said:
“I am very happy to be part of the Dundee Stars, it will be a new experience for me with a new team and new emotions, so I can’t wait for new season!
“I was talking to coach Pacha and he told me that league is progressing on its own and how competitive it is.
“When you look in the team standings the difference in points is small, so every game is a tough fight.
“I have also heard that the Dundee Stars organisation will respect you not only as a hockey player but also as a person.
“I have heard some things about league, like it’s a physical league and you have to be ready all the time.
“I know Georgs Golovkovs, who has been playing in the Elite League and he has told me only good things.”
Egils also shared a bit about what Stars fans can expect to see from him this season, he added:
“I am an unselfish player and I will do my best to help the team to win a hockey game.
“I don’t want to say im good because I believe actions speak louder than words, so fans will have to wait until I hit the ice.”
Season tickets are still available for fans to purchase from the DIA. Ticket are also on sale for our preseason games against the Odense Bulldogs. Buy yours NOW.
Egils is our 16th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Jordan Cownie, Craig Garrigan, Matt Marquardt, Kris Inglis, Shawn Boutin, Alex Leclerc, Justin Maylan, Duncan Speirs, Anthony Beauregard, Brett Stovin, Reilly O’Connor, Colton Kroeker, Craig Gans and Jagger Dirk in the line-up for the upcoming Elite League campaign.
Kalns will wear #13 for Dundee this year.
To view Egils’ career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE.
